Question about pre reqs

[Peds555]

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Hello everyone!

I’ve posted here on and off for the past couple years, and I finally have everything together to go back to school full time and finish my bachelors. I’m really excited! I just have a question. I’ve noticed that some medical schools have a couple different pre reqs that they require. I’m going to make sure I get my state’s pre reqs, but since I don’t know what all my final stats are going to be (I have about 2.5 years of college left), I don’t think I can formulate a school list yet. So how do people do this? Just look at the schools that I want to go to (that also seem reasonable), and make sure I have those pre-reqs?

Thanks for any advice!!

 

[JimKimSlim]

Yeah, that’s fine. Most schools have same general pre-req requirements with maybe a handful that has really specific ones. In my case, I just took classes suggested by my school’s premed office and had no problem applying.

 

[Peds555]

Yeah, that’s fine. Most schools have same general pre-req requirements with maybe a handful that has really specific ones. In my case, I just took classes suggested by my school’s premed office and had no problem applying.

Okay, thank you!!

 

[blissworm]

i think the following list should be pretty universally applicable, at least this is what I am doing. if others wanna critique and edit this go for it

• 2 semesters of bio (at least 1 sem of cell/molecular), probably labs too
• 2 semesters gen chem w labs
• 2 semesters ochem w labs
• 2 semesters physics w labs
• 1 semester biochem, lab optional
• 1 semester psych
• 1-2 semesters writing
• 1-2 semesters humanities

i did genetics and microbiology too, i am not doing anatomy and phys which could be criticized. maybe a semester of sociology

 

[Peds555]

You prepare the general set of prereqs but you primarily target schools first by GPA and MCAT score as reported in MSAR to fit their academic profile. You then examine your fit via their mission and class profile. For example applying to a research heavy school without research would be inappropriate. Additionally you examine your EC/W&A for “competitiveness” . For example, highly rated, highly selective schools (“T20”) would require very good to outstanding array of activities.

For older nontraditional student i cannot emphasis the importance of the MCAT. Many applicants do not understand how different an exam this is nor do they give it time and energy preparing for it. I am now of the opinion you should take the year before you apply (many student prepare and take it the summer between junior snd senior year). In the ideal most optimal world having an MCAT score by January of application year allows you to start targeting schools to apply to. This in turn allows you to look up and start working on secondaries for those schools before application season opens allowing you to develop themes that then can be used in primary AMCAS application. This would allow for a well-written, polished application with a coherent, concise, and compelling narrative showing your strong patterns of motivation, commitment and achievement.

Thank you so much for all the advice!!